THIS YEAR'S THEME

Beyond GDP:

The Pursuit of Happiness for All

For the last 50 years, since the Miracle of the Han River that refers to the successful industrialization period of South Korea, we have focused on transforming Korea into a seemingly developed country. Embarrassingly enough, such efforts made us realize that "happiness" is nothing more than an empty word in our day-to-day lives. In pursuit of "more economic growth" all we are left with is a "lack of happiness"

Since 2010, the Hankyoreh-sponsored Asia Future Forum has been trying to find a sustainable development model. Our existing concerns on the environment and ecology as well as on "happiness for all" have become necessary conditions for sustainable development. At some point, happiness became a political term in our society, which indicates that we live a life without happiness.

According to a number of reports, including the World Happiness Report published by the United Nations, South Korea is suffering more and more not only from income inequality but also from happiness inequality. It is about time to explore and develop socioeconomic policies that can help us live our lives in pursuit of "happiness for all". To meet the demand of the times and to solve the problems we are currently facing, our primary goal in setting a policy must be achieving "happiness for all" a concept that should never be given up.
This year, the Asia Future Form, which has been consistently articulating alternative discourses such as "inclusive growth" and "human-centered economy" aims to find new socioeconomic policies to achieve "happiness for all".